Really, this will be weighted to the last 90 years or so.

Sportsnet did this in magazine form for the Laffs.  Ron Ellis #1 (good call), Armstrong, Salming, Sittler and Sundin rounding out the top ten.  Gilmour and Clark in the 'teens (short timers).  Lots of guys like Apps and Connacher and Kennedy.  Not a lot of recent glory....

Fun to do this with the Bruins?

1 - Orr

2 - Bourque

3 - Schmidt

4 - Shore

5 - Esposito

6 - Neely

7 - Middleton

8 - Bucyk

9 - Cheevers

10 - O'Reilly

...

Now it starts to get dicey.  Am I missing anyone from "the Pantheon"?  Guys like Hitchman and Clapper had their numbers retired, and probably belong on here somewhere, but they aren't in this group.  Same with Cashman and Hodge - they're on the list but how high?  And where do you put some of the more recent players like Thornton (ugh) or Bergeron or TT?

Is Borque #2 just because he played when most of us were alive? I know he's in top 5, but didn't someone like Eddie Shore actually redefine the position at the time he was playing? All lists will be prjudicially weighted towards the present, I'd guess. I don't really know if Dit Clapper should be # 7 or # 15? Of current players I'd think Chara and TT would both be in all-time top 20.

I'd go

1 - Orr

2 - Bourque

3 - Shore

4 - Schmidt

5 - Esposito

6 - Bucyk

7 - Clapper

8 - Neely

9 - Hitchman

10 - Cowley

Cowley is the tough one, I could see putting him much higher, even top 5. The guy retired as the all-time leading scorer for the NHL.

In response to red75's comment:

I'd go

1 - Orr

2 - Bourque

3 - Shore

4 - Schmidt

5 - Esposito

6 - Bucyk

7 - Clapper

8 - Neely

9 - Hitchman

10 - Cowley

Cowley is the tough one, I could see putting him much higher, even top 5. The guy retired as the all-time leading scorer for the NHL.

I appreciate giving props to the old guys Red, but it's hard to put them on a list when you have ever seen them play to appreciate their skills. 

In response to seobrien's comment:

Is Borque #2 just because he played when most of us were alive? I know he's in top 5, but didn't someone like Eddie Shore actually redefine the position at the time he was playing? All lists will be prjudicially weighted towards the present, I'd guess. I don't really know if Dit Clapper should be # 7 or # 15? Of current players I'd think Chara and TT would both be in all-time top 20.

I'd put Bourque there because I believe he was instrumental in the Bruins finally beating the schabs in the playoffs. Those first 2 games of that series, Ray was unbelievably amazing. He went back to just superb after that and Cam sort of took over, as I remember it. After 19 str8 playoff series losses to them, he deserves big credit.  

In response to perrysound's comment:

In response to seobrien's comment:

Is Borque #2 just because he played when most of us were alive? I know he's in top 5, but didn't someone like Eddie Shore actually redefine the position at the time he was playing? All lists will be prjudicially weighted towards the present, I'd guess. I don't really know if Dit Clapper should be # 7 or # 15? Of current players I'd think Chara and TT would both be in all-time top 20.

I'd put Bourque there because I believe he was instrumental in the Bruins finally beating the schabs in the playoffs. Those first 2 games of that series, Ray was unbelievably amazing. He went back to just superb after that and Cam sort of took over, as I remember it. After 19 str8 playoff series losses to them, he deserves big credit.  

Understood and agree with you...Borque is right up there, but I've watched hundred and hundreds of hours of Ray Borque playing, so I have no choice but to be biased. I'd venture no one on this board ever saw Shore play, we only have stories and stats. I'm just noting that without having seen him (outside of 3 secs of grainy film) that I can say with certainty that Shore was any more or less "great" than Ray Borque. In the case of Clapper, Schmidt, Hitchman, et al. we only have anecdotal evidence of how important they were to the franchise.

here's an interesting question. what current bruins have a chance at making it into the top bruins of all time discussion. Of course, the players I mentioned might not have worked their way there yet, but have the potential to do so. 

1. Patrice Bergeron - Obviously he has the talent to do this. I really have the feeling that Bergeron winds up playing 20 seasons with the Bruins, and serves as captain for many of them.

2. Tyler Seguin - he's just scratched the surface of his talent. He could be a 50 goal scorer for years to come.

3. Milan Lucic - I don't think he makes the list. But if he takes the next step and turns into a 35-35 100PIM kinda player for a long time then who knows. 

4. Zdeno Chara - I think he's a given to be on that list. 

5. Dougie Hamilton - who knows, but it could certainly happen.

6. Carl Soderberg - Sinch to make this list once he comes over to NA.

7. Tuukka Rask - He still has to prove that he can handle the starters role, but teh talent is there.

8. Anton Khudobin - best goalie in the NHL. period. 

In response to bostonfan191646's comment:

here's an interesting question. what current bruins have a chance at making it into the top bruins of all time discussion. Of course, the players I mentioned might not have worked their way there yet, but have the potential to do so. 

1. Patrice Bergeron - Obviously he has the talent to do this. I really have the feeling that Bergeron winds up playing 20 seasons with the Bruins, and serves as captain for many of them.

2. Tyler Seguin - he's just scratched the surface of his talent. He could be a 50 goal scorer for years to come.

3. Milan Lucic - I don't think he makes the list. But if he takes the next step and turns into a 35-35 100PIM kinda player for a long time then who knows. 

4. Zdeno Chara - I think he's a given to be on that list. 

5. Dougie Hamilton - who knows, but it could certainly happen.

6. Carl Soderberg - Sinch to make this list once he comes over to NA.

7. Tuukka Rask - He still has to prove that he can handle the starters role, but teh talent is there.

8. Anton Khudobin - best goalie in the NHL. period. 

Tuuka has to prove that he can handle the starters role but you have Anton and his handful of games as the best in the NHL period.

Interesting.

In response to red75's comment:

I'd go

1 - Orr

2 - Bourque

3 - Shore

4 - Schmidt

5 - Esposito

6 - Bucyk

7 - Clapper

8 - Neely

9 - Hitchman

10 - Cowley

Cowley is the tough one, I could see putting him much higher, even top 5. The guy retired as the all-time leading scorer for the NHL.

I appreciate giving props to the old guys Red, but it's hard to put them on a list when you have ever seen them play to appreciate their skills. 

In response to kelvana33's comment:

In response to bostonfan191646's comment:

here's an interesting question. what current bruins have a chance at making it into the top bruins of all time discussion. Of course, the players I mentioned might not have worked their way there yet, but have the potential to do so. 

1. Patrice Bergeron - Obviously he has the talent to do this. I really have the feeling that Bergeron winds up playing 20 seasons with the Bruins, and serves as captain for many of them.

2. Tyler Seguin - he's just scratched the surface of his talent. He could be a 50 goal scorer for years to come.

3. Milan Lucic - I don't think he makes the list. But if he takes the next step and turns into a 35-35 100PIM kinda player for a long time then who knows. 

4. Zdeno Chara - I think he's a given to be on that list. 

5. Dougie Hamilton - who knows, but it could certainly happen.

6. Carl Soderberg - Sinch to make this list once he comes over to NA.

7. Tuukka Rask - He still has to prove that he can handle the starters role, but teh talent is there.

8. Anton Khudobin - best goalie in the NHL. period. 

Tuuka has to prove that he can handle the starters role but you have Anton and his handful of games as the best in the NHL period.

Interesting.

have you ever read this poster stanleycuptothebruins? he always says that Khudo is amazing...ya it was a joke

I get all the arguments to not include the old guys, but if you're using that criteria as reasons to exclude these players, then don't call it All-time, and you shouldn't be including Shore and Schmidt either. Call it Best of the TV era.

And for a comparison, when THN did their 100 best players of all time list the Bruins that made it were

2.Orr

10.Shore

14. Bourque

18. Esposito

28. Schmidt

41. Clapper

45. Bucyk

49. Park

53. Cowley

67. Brimsek

I get all the arguments to not include the old guys, but if you're using that criteria as reasons to exclude these players, then don't call it All-time, and you shouldn't be including Shore and Schmidt either. Call it Best of the TV era.

And for a comparison, when THN did their 100 best players of all time list the Bruins that made it were

2.Orr

10.Shore

14. Bourque

18. Esposito

28. Schmidt

41. Clapper

45. Bucyk

49. Park

53. Cowley

67. Brimsek